Youth are the engine of the nation – Kagame

President Paul Kagame, yesterday, said that the government is committed to the empowerment of the youth for them to be more innovative and productive. The Head of State made the remarks at the Parliament buildings, Kimihurura, while officiating at the swearing-in ceremony of three Cabinet ministers. They included the former Senate president, Dr Vincent Biruta, who is the new Education Minister; Jean Philbert Nsengimana, the Minister of Youth, as well as Agriculture Minister, Dr Agnes Kalibata, who was absent during the previous swearing-in ceremony. The President said the decision to restore a full ministry for youth and to appoint a relatively young minister to head it, was in line with the government’s commitment to empowering the youth and entrusting them with leadership responsibilities. He said that the nation has a lot of expectations from its young people and that it was critical for them to assume leadership roles early, to help prepare them to take over from their elders. Kagame added that the youth ministry will go a long way in nurturing the young into innovative and skilful citizens. He expressed optimism that Dr Biruta will use his vast experience to help take the country’s education system to another level, adding that he had exhibited competence while serving at the helm of the upper chamber of parliament – from 2003-2011. The Head of State called on the Rwandan people to maintain the tempo in efforts to address the challenges the country faces. Speaking to The New Times, after the ceremony,Nsengimana, 37, said: “I am delighted by my new task, but most importantly, I am humbled by the trust the appointing authority put in me and I will deliver to expectations. While the challenge is enormous, I believe I have what it takes to take it on,” Nsengimana said. “We want the youth to play an all-inclusive role and to take the leadership mantle. I will be a facilitator, but the youth should be involved in the process”. Nsengimana said the ministry will work with other government institutions to ensure that the issues concerning the welfare of the youth, including unemployment and access to education, are addressed. Biruta said that he has the will and determination to deliver on his new mandate. Who is Nsengimana? A former student leader and lecturer at the National University of Rwanda (NUR), Nsengimana holds a Master’s degree in Software Engineering from SP Jain Centre of Management (Singapore), Dubai campus. He also holds an advanced degree in Project Management and once headed the Rwanda Development Gateway and represented Africa gateway networks. In recent years, he headed Voxiva, a US-based firm which specialises in health technology. He is married with two sons. edmund.kagire@newtimes.co.rw